It felt like being in Ibiza with the sun shining and temperatures hitting a sweltering 30 Celsius, which for Britain, prompted heat warnings when the SEAT Ibiza was delivered. In a blue Azure colour, it matched the Sky and looked fabulous. Although not a luxury or sports car, I was looking forward to driving the Ibiza as the SEAT brand produces excellent cars.
The 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine is impressively quiet, and you hardly notice it running. The Ibiza is a sporty choice in the supermini class, even if you don't choose the racy FR or FR Sport models. The handling is sharp, but not at the expense of comfort, while increased dimensions help the Ibiza to be one of the most spacious cars in the class, too.
Rivals in this hotly contested sector are plentiful, but three to mention are the Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio and the Skoda Fabia.
SEAT Ibiza models are five-door hatchbacks, SE being the entry point to the range with no basic version in the line-up. You get as standard a touchscreen DAB radio with smartphone connectivity, LED daytime running lights and tail lights, metallic paint and a host of modern safety kit. The SE Technology model has a bigger touchscreen with sat-nav and ambient interior lighting. If you jump to the FR spec, you get sportier trim, 17-inch wheels and a drive mode selector. FR Sport gives you 18-inch wheels, suede-effect upholstery and a digital dashboard.
If you opt for the Xcellence, you get LED headlights, chrome accents and rear parking sensors, and the range-topper Xcellence Lux adds adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors and a rearview camera.
The SEAT Ibiza's are front-wheel-drive, with the 1.0 MPI and lower-powered 1.0 TSI coming with a five-speed manual gearbox. The TSI is more powerful and has a six-speed box. You can also get the smooth-shifting seven-speed DSG automatic.
Front Wheel Drive gives strong, confident handling, with the Ibiza feeling like a smaller Leon. Little body roll is felt with the ride firm, not uncomfortable. The brakes are effective, giving the driver plenty of confidence when applying.
The current SEAT Ibiza is 2mm shorter than the previous model, but the MQB A0 platform means the wheelbase has extended by 95mm, so there's plenty of interior space. Legroom is improved by 35mm, and the square-shaped boot is spacious, providing 355 litres. The width is 85mm wider, and the car sits lower. You get a great sports profile.
The Ibiza SE include an 8.25-inch touchscreen, while all other trim levels come with a 9.2-inch version. All feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with integrated sat-nav available on SE Technology variants and above. The colour display is clear and sharp, with the screen in a more advantageous position than the outgoing model. It now sits ahead of the dash.
You get plenty of space as a passenger, and it has a good-sized boot with quite a few places to store bits and bobs. The SEAT Ibiza is ideal for easy parking and now comes loaded with helpful tech. On the SE and SE Technology cars, you get automatic headlights, electrically-adjustable door mirrors and a tyre pressure monitoring system, while the Xcellence specification adds parking sensors, a keyless go system and rain-sensing wipers.
Returning to passenger space, there is enough room in the back for three adults at a squeeze; carrying children will have good room around them. You can reach the rear seats quickly; the driver's view and driving position are impressive.
Every model has an autonomous emergency braking function, a tiredness recognition system and a Lane Assist warning. You can choose two individual safety packs at extra cost, featuring adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, a road sign display and a lane-keeping system with traffic jam assist.
The SEAT Ibiza is comfy and good to drive. There's good space inside for passengers and luggage, the quality is impressive, and it is good-looking. It is Practical, versatile, and offers flexibility and all you would want from a small hatchback.